Doctors struggle with telling older drivers it's time to park

But physicians do have new resources available to help elderly patients decide whether to give up the car keys.

By Victoria Stagg Elliott, AMNews staff. Aug. 4, 2003.

Last month, a car barreled through a farmer's market in Santa Monica, Calif., killing at least 10 and injuring dozens. Preliminary tests indicated the driver was not impaired by alcohol or drugs. But he was elderly. As of press time, police were considering whether the tragedy resulted from negligence or was the product of the 86-year-old driver's age or age-related medical conditions.

The circumstance, of course, is heartbreaking. But it highlights a difficult reality.

On the whole, older drivers are safer than most age groups. Still, events like this one and the fact that, mile per mile, elderly drivers are significantly more likely to be killed in a car crash than other drivers, cannot be ignored. Thus, medical societies are taking action to encourage physician involvement in assessing driver safety issues among patients.

At the June meeting of the American Medical Association, delegates adopted policy urging physicians to increase their awareness of medical conditions, medications and other factors that can affect the driving ability of older people. Doctors should also be aware of rehabilitation options and know their state's reporting laws for at-risk drivers.

"This is an issue that comes up, unfortunately, with increasing frequency in physicians' offices," said Melvyn L. Sterling, MD, a member of the AMA's Council on Scientific Affairs.

The AMA is also releasing "The Physician's Guide to Assessing and Counseling Older Drivers" online this summer and in print later this year. The guide was created with support from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and aims to give doctors tools to keep older drivers on the road as long as it is safe, but also get them off the road when necessary.